Planning down under

I've had quite a few people interested in cycling with me in OZ and NZ. Two almost definites, so looks like I'll have some company which is great news. Some of the shows are quite small - and this is actually a ploy to have a guaranteed audience. I have some interesting house shows lined up for NZ, in out of the way places. One on a farm, another at a music studio by the sea.

Do you want to come on tour with me?

The next phase of the never-ending tour is New Zealand and Australia. I'm cycling and would like some companions. If you're stuck for a holiday idea and want to join for a couple of weeks, it would certainly be a memorable trip. It's summer there you know.

It's couchsurfing all the way, so there are no accommodation costs and no limit to the number of people who can come along. Just your flight if you're not already there, and your bicycle if you don't have one. Daily distances are 100km max, then a rest day, so it should be manageable if you're in moderate shape, and if you're not you soon will be.

I do a great Forest Gump impression and can keep it up continuously for days on end "touring was like a box of chocolates" (it will be hilarious), I'll even grow the beard back, and if we can get a gang going along it will be a cavalcade of fun. If you're a musician or a performer you can join in or just tag along for the ride.

New Zealand: 16th February - 16th March = Auckland to Christchurch
Australia: 17th March - 17th June = Melbourne to Brisbane

I don't have the exact dates, or venues yet. My Australian booker, the wonderful Veronica Lake is putting the finishing touches to it, so I'll send them nearer the time. We're still open for couch concerts, if you know a friend who would like a show in their living room then please suggest it.

Suits sold

That was a fast sale. The last suit has gone, which means the price was too low. I'd lost faith in them really, only to regain it when it was too late. But they went to good homes, fans of my music so I'm a happy man. It might be tempting to make them again cheaper if I see some cheap factory in Asia, but I think I've learnt my lesson and will leave business to the businessmen. I've heard the design has already been ripped off in London, so maybe they'll be in H&M one day then everyone can have one.

Closing down the shop... final suit sale!

So.... I've reopened my shop in Amsterdam to close it down. Make any sense? (It was rented out to other people while I was touring for the last 18 months, and now I'm touring for good, so I have to get rid of the last suits)

I have 28 of my zip-suits left. Just measure yourself or tell me your size. They were priced at €500 but now they're going for €50 (plus P+P). 90% off!!! I know! I'm practically giving them away. But these are the last ones I have and I want to be finished with the fashion business. A lot of people have said that they'd like one, so it's now or never folks! Read more about them at www.jackstaffordcollection.com

There is also some women's clothing from Eleene in Paris http://eleene.over.blog.com

- But you'll have to come to the shop to see them. Vijzelstraat 67, Amsterdam

Flash mob music video

Does anyone want to be in a music video on Saturday? If you're in Amsterdam bring your laptop to de Balie on Leidseplein at 11.30am. It's for a song 'Wifi?' about trying to get online. I'll sing at 12 noon and then everyone starts dancing at the end with their laptop, while people look surprised. If you haven't heard of a flash mob before, it's when people assemble in a public place at a specified time and perform a pointless act. There are lots of good examples on youtube. But it'll only work if there's lots of people.

Crash

A very upsetting day...
http://m.eadt24.co.uk/;s=Bmi_zeVNa8EiOkaMAKZiA25/content/eadt/news/story.aspx?id=1.765775
- My dad was just behind the three as they went down and just missed
them. I was in the other group that rode the shorter distance. It's
very unusual for people to get hurt that badly. A freak accident.
Paramedics were an hour on the road treating them before the air
ambulance came. Peter, the most seriously hurt, is still in a coma.

Any creative ideas?

I have over 1000 CD singles left over from my first two albums,
because back in the day radio insisted on physical copies for airplay
(many still do, the fools). What should I do with them?

Last show of the year

The end! Of the year. It was a long year. I'm glad I did it but I
wouldn't do it again. 150 shows... Or 200. Depends on who asks me. I
haven't added then up properly. Either way it was too many. Next year
I'm cutting back. Less but better shows. I prefer the travelling to
the playing.

The last show was in Osnabruck. It was their monthly full moon concert
series which is usually well attended, but there was a big show at the
weekend and Christmas which cut attendance. There was only €39 in the
hat. Thankfully I had a guarantee of €100, but that just covered the
trains, as my Eurail has run out. Good job Enma didn't come.
Nevermind. The cafe owner, David, was a great guy and made it a good
night. We played Liar's Dice and swapped stories.

Regifting

I find it often helps to give an album a second plug, so if you
downloaded the Christmas Kinks tribute album, can you please regift
it? (It's the only time when it's socially acceptable.)

If you're interested in the mechanics of indie music promotion: I have
10,000 (incl old addresses) on my mailing list, 2,500 open the email,
250 click the link and 50 download. It's pretty poor percentages, but
that's email for you.

The Christmas album cost me almost €400. They were top musicians
working for cheap and it sounds great and I have it for life and I
wanted to do it, so it's a bargain price, but.... that works out at a
Christmas gift of €8 to everyone who downloaded it, which is more
than I'm spending on my mother (they're nice syrup waffels though).

So if you could help me in some way, so I can tell my mum I got more than 50
downloads, by passing on the link to friends and family, I'd be very
grateful. Merry Christmas! Jack

Download it at www.thejackstaffordfoundation.com (music page)

Train life

It's been a long week of trains for this last leg of the year, with
the weather meaning missed connections and longer days. But the end is
in sight. Only 9 more trains and one ferry to catch this year.

Materialism

I was all for condemning him for his materialism until I found out I
was in his collection. He'd downloaded the last two Christmas albums
and even designed his own inlays. Collecting isn't always bad then.

Henk and Emmy

I stayed with Henk, the biggest Beatles fan in Holland. He has a HUGE
collection of cover versions of the Beatles and other favourite
artists, and edits Beatles Unlimited, the fanzine.

Henglo

A small but appreciative audience in a cosy venue in this small Dutch
town near the German border.

Maastricht

A small but well-formed audience. We held it in the bathroom. Best
sound at any show yet.

Winterwonderland

All the trains are delayed, but it's all very pretty

Helge, Andy and Nicole

There were only 10 people at the show and we didn't have a place to crash. Thankfully someone took pity on us and phoned round all their friends. I stayed with Andy andhis kindly flatmate Nicole, including a nice big German breakfast  

Goodbye Emma

We played our last show together last night. Fittingly it was in
Steini's bar, the Stereowonderland. I'll miss her but not her songs,
they got lodged in my head and were taking over my brain like a virus.
I need an intensive cleanse of christmas to get rid of them. 'jingle
bells, jingle bells...'

Anna

Anna was our kindly local guide around Bonn, except when she started
the snowball fight.

When Emma met Steini

A big moment in the history of the blog!

Markings on my back

Anyone know what this is? I think it's from my bones sticking out and
rubbing on a rough bath but that sounds strange.

No bag!!!

The bike stayed in amsterdam, so for this stage of the trip I've
reached a new level on the renunciation scale, travelling without a
bag. Just things stuffed in pockets (see pic, only one spare item of
clothing, a sock (they're on rotation)- guitar and umbrella not
pictured. To think I started a year and a half ago with a big
suitcase. The longer you travel... I'm not even carrying CDs anymore,
I feel bad selling objects to people while I preach minimalism.

On the train to Bonn

Only one week of shows left this year, praise the lord.

Stefan

My No.1 fan organised the show and the recording in his flat. What a
guy.

Amsterdam

It was a lovely little show and we got all the new songs recorded. A
few were delightfully unrehearsed, but let's see how it comes out

Fan club

It was such a surprise to see so many fans last night, all in their
Foundation tshirts. I never expected it

Thanks to the band... Keez Groenteman

Keez has been playing these 60s songs in a cover band since he was 14.  He's also the singer in the best new Dutch band Lola Kite. Check out their first single, a really great song on youtube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JSkWITCqUqs

The Christmas album is online!

It's The Kinks this year. Download it for free here. I'm very pleased with it. It took one long 12 hour day to do the 5 tracks. They were a great bunch of guys. Have a very Merry Christmas!

Tonight we record another album!

(I don't have an album cover yet. Does anyone want to do it? I took a photo with my iphone but it doesn't look too hot. The album is called 'A Kinky Christmas'.)

Thanks to the band... Daniel Rose

Daniel is a great guy and allround musician and I was delighted to have him come and play. He's in C'Mon and Kypski. and has toured Europe and the US with them, so sign up to see when they come near you. They have many great videos. Check out this one with and then search for the rest

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8uEuhrcem_c

Thanks to the band... Paul Willemsen

Paul is one of the best guitarist in Holland. He produced my first album, as well as this Christmas EP. He plays guitar in many bands. One of his latest projects was Beans & Fatback Check out a video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r7ibdP7TPzI

The likely lads

Tropical theme?

Getting backing vocals down

In the studio

Recording the Christmas album in Amsterdam

10 new songs

Just posted 10 new songs on the lyrics/blog page of my website. We'll record most of them Tuesday night.

Utrecht couch concert

30 people in a tiny one room apartment. It was gezellig.

Tree

Emma is put to work in Utrecht decorating the christmas tree

Zara is shit

And now the heals are coming off the shoes.

Don't shop at Zara

The buttons all came off my coat in a week.

I'm home!

Back in the low lands. On the train to Utrecht. Best of all my phone
contract works in the Netherlands, so no hunting for wifi.

Brussels

Michel gave me a tour of his hometown

Chrys

Our couch concert host in Brussels. A sweet little lady who let us
stay three nights.